Whipstitch

Host Deborah Moebes reviews her 2024 sewing goals, including how she set them and what she's hoping to achieve this year. Join the conversation and think through your sewing philosophy, your sewing habits, and how to sew more garments that you love to wear!   Read a related blog post here: https://whip-stitch.com/my-sewing-goals-for-2024/

Host Deborah Moebes guides you through THREE chapters covering everything you want and need to know about bias tape.  Chapter One: What Is It, and Why?  Chapter Two: What to make with bias tape.  Chapter Three: Continuous bias tape, step by step.   Read more here: https://whip-stitch.com/?s=bias+tape

Have you ever heard of a SEWING tournament?  You've heard of a basketball tournament, and a bowling tournament, but a SEWING tournament?  The League of Dressmakers, Whipstitch's subscription garment club for sewing better clothing, has an Annual Sewing Tournament, the only one of its kind.  The next round starts the first week of March 2024, and you can be part of the fun! Listen to Whipstitch founder Deborah Moebes share the inspiration and concept behind the sewing tournament, the challenges involved, and the unexpected outcomes for members who play along. Want to take part?  Join The League: https://leagueofdressmakers.com

Host Deborah Moebes shares the story of sewing a men's sport coat from a Vogue sewing pattern, only to have it fail miserably--and what that reveals about her own (accidental) pursuit of perfectionism in her sewing. Read the original blog post here: https://whip-stitch.com/mens-sport-coat-reveal/

This year is the NINTH year of the Murder Mystery Quilt, and we're headed to GREECE!  Hear Deborah Moebes share the colors and design of the quilt, the mystery we'll be solving, and how you can also join Murder At Yellowstone for a limited time.   Learn more: MurderMysteryQuilt.com  

In this episode, Deborah shares a visit to Manzanar, an American internment camp for citizens of Japanese ancestry during World War II.  The ways in which sewing formed community, relationships, and identity for those Americans during this tumultuous time should be honored and remembered.  These are Great Women In Sewing. Read a full transcript, complete with links & more posts in the Great Women In Sewing blog series, here: https://whip-stitch.com/great-women-in-sewing-the-seamstresses-of-manzanar/

Deborah discusses the near-death of her beloved sewing machine, her relationship with her local sewing machine repair shop, and how to maintain our sewing machines so that we don't need repairs as often--and at lower cost. Atlanta locals, the repair shop Deborah uses is the Atlanta Sewing Center, which has two locations: https://www.atlantasewing.com/ Read Deborah's original blog post with these details and show notes here: https://whip-stitch.com/tag/sewing-machine-maintenance/ Deborah's post about the "Three Most Common Sewing Mistakes--and How To Fix Them" is here: https://whip-stitch.com/answers-to-the-three-most-frequent-sewing-machine-questions/ Deborah's bulk sewing machine needle purchase link is here (this is an affiliate link): https://amzn.to/3XvtCre The sewing machine cover Deborah mentions, which is both in her book Stitch Savvy and a part of the How To Sew video series, you can see here: https://whip-stitch.com/quilted-sewing-machine-cover/ For more information about the How To Sew video series, see the League of Dressmakers blog post: https://leagueofdressmakers.com/how-to-sew-video-series-master-your-sewing/ For more about rubbing alcohol to clean your tension discs, see this post from the National Quilters Circle The sewing machine oil with a telescoping spout is here: https://amzn.to/3CNd7NS Need a new sewing machine instruction manual, especially for a vintage model?  Try this archive: https://archive.org/details/manuals?and%5B%5D=subject%3A%22sewing+machine%22&sort=-publicdate The post where Deborah looks at images of sewing thread under the microscope is here: https://whip-stitch.com/your-thread-has-a-shelf-life/    

Deborah shares FOUR questions that will help you narrow down your sewing machine options, whether you're buying a first sewing machine or buying a replacement sewing machine.  Then, she shares the SIX non-negotiable features that every sewing machine ought to have--along with where and how to buy a great machine for less money!   Read a transcript of this episode here: https://whip-stitch.com/how-to-choose-a-sewing-machine

Deborah talks about how to get UNSTUCK when you don't know how to get started sewing--whether sewing is brand-new to you, or whether you're feeling stalled out and need new ideas. Read an abridged transcript of this episode on the Whipstitch blog: https://whip-stitch.com/how-to-get-back-into-sewing/ Learn more about the Murder Mystery Quilt mentioned in this episode here: http://murdermysteryquilt.com/about Learn more about the League of Dressmakers mentioned in the episode here: https://leagueofdressmakers.com/about/  

Listen as Deborah Moebes shares the history of the Murder Mystery Quilt, her subscription clue where quilters join Clue Crews to read an original detective story while sewing a quilt they've never seen, so they can sew the quilt to solve the crime!     Registration for the 2023 Murder Mystery Quilt is now open: https://murdermysteryquilt.com/join-2023

Almost exactly one year ago, Deborah set a goal to sew FIVE quilts as a Christmas gift for 2022.  But they aren't any old quilt--they're the Project Of Doom, a notoriously challenging foundation paper pieced Harry Potter-themed bookcase quilt.  This episode, she updates us on her progress, even though it's only October, and discusses how she sews Christmas pajamas every year for the whole family by starting far soon in the calendar than she really likes. Along the way, join in this thought-provoking discussion of how handmade is a part of YOUR holiday, how ambitious plans can be handled with some self-compassion, and how we can evaluate our progress on sewing projects by viewing it through the lens of how much joy it brings us IN THE PROCESS. Read more about the Whipstitch Project of Doom here: https://whip-stitch.com/the-quilt-of-doom-harry-potter-quilts-for-five/  

Season Two premiere!  Your host Deborah Moebes walks through the process of shopping for fabric, with and without a sewing pattern.  Consider the options for where and what to purchase--and find out how many yards to buy when you don't know yet what you're making!   Read the show notes, complete with links, at the Whipstitch blog: https://whip-stitch.com/whipstitch-podcast-season-2-premiere

Deborah Moebes shares the history and structure of her subscription club, The League of Dressmakers, and how that relates to the annual online showcase of handmade clothing called Me Made May.  Hear her talk  through the design and intention behind structuring a membership club for garment sewing, how the League inspires her & other members to learn new sewing skills, and what the flow of images shared during Me Made May means for club members. Read the first public post about the creation of the League here: https://whip-stitch.com/the-league-of-adventurous-dressmakers/ Learn more about the League and join here: https://leagueofdressmakers.com/ See the League Instagram account here: https://www.instagram.com/leagueofdressmakers/    

Deborah Moebes talks through the thought & design process behind the Junior Ranger backpacks she sewed for her three children as a way to display the embroidered patches they've earned at the US National Parks.  This coffee-date talk also includes conversation about the Junior Ranger program itself, how Deborah thinks through projects as part of an intentional design process, how to sew with bias tape on thicker fabrics, and why it's worth it to design with longevity in mind. Read more and see photos of this project here: https://whip-stitch.com/junior-ranger-backpacks-with-patches-and-pins/ See the Continuous Bias Tape tutorial and download the guide here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZUJknZ6aC0&t=607s  

Deborah Moebes discusses how learning to knit changed how she stores her textiles; how pantry moths taught her how to prevent infestations; and where to get the goodies to keep your preciouses safe. Brief mentions of Helen Mirren and the "ephemeral nature of all making."   Transcript of this episode (abridged): How To Store Wool Yarn & Fabric   Links for items mentioned in this episode: two-gallon zip-top storage bags tips for preventing moth infestation wool dryer balls lavender essential oil dried organic lavender flowers (bulk) Martha's basics for mothproofing   That Helen Mirren film Deborah mentioned? Is called Gosford Park, and it's spectacular.   Some links may be affiliate links that provide a small commission. Your cost is unaffected when using these links.  

Host Deborah Moebes details her thought process for selecting the best iron for sewing & quilting, comparing past steam generator irons (like Rowenta or Black & Decker) vs the gravity-fed iron with a separate reservoir.  Ideas about iron weight, steam quality, and what iron works best in your space are all included! Read more on this idea on the Whipstitch blog: https://whip-stitch.com/in-the-ring-rowenta-vs-the-gravity-feed-iron/

Meet Deborah Moebes, our podcast host! Hear about how she came to sewing, her two best-selling books, her two wildly successful subscription clubs, how she gets inspired to sew, and what's next for Whipstitch.

In 1895, to save her kingdom from being torn apart, Queen Lili'uokalani signed over her authority to the US government.  Subsequent to that event, she was imprisoned in her own bedroom in her palace–‘Iolani Palace–for ten months.  Her closest companion stayed with her, voluntarily, throughout her confinement, leaving only on Sundays to see her family.  During the time that she was under house arrest, Queen Lili'uokalani worked in crazy quilt style–the most popular quilting style of the day–and created much of the 97″ x 95″ Queen's Quilt that is now on display in ‘Iolani Palace. Join host Deborah Moebes for a peek into how the Queen's Quilt serves as a symbol reflecting the way sewing has impacted Hawiian culture, and continues to demonstrate how sewing can be an act of revolutionary identity.   Read more here:  https://whip-stitch.com/the-queens-quilt-podcast

Deborah Moebes shares three questions we can ask ourselves about our sewing that will challenge us, direct our focus, and help us celebrate our wins at the sewing machine.

Vintage thread spools are THE most darling, those tiny wooden hearts with lovely colors wound around them--BUT! That thread may not be stable or strong enough for your modern-day sewing projects.  Learn why in this episode where we explore how to test your thread's strength, and what to do with thread rather than throw it away.   Read a transcript of this episode here: https://whip-stitch.com/your-thread-has-a-shelf-life/

Hear Deborah Moebes tell the story of how she learned to view her children's "art"--and her own--not as "art" but as Art by sharing it at the Atlanta Craft Swap.  What we make with our hands is valuable, but it can take an unexpected event to make that idea feel real.   Read a transcript of this episode's audio here: https://whip-stitch.com/adventures-at-the-atlanta-food-and-craft-swap/

The story of Ann Lowe, whose designs are housed in the Smithsonian Museum of American History and created the wedding gown in which Jackie Kennedy was married, and who died nearly destitute and largely forgotten.  She's fascinated and our sewing will be better when we know more about her.   Read a transcript of this post on the Whipstitch blog: https://whip-stitch.com/ann-lowe-a-great-woman-of-sewing/

Ever had a giant bird's nest of thread under your sewing with no idea how it got there?  How about a weird noise coming from the machine with every stitch?  Deborah reviews the top three most common sewing machine errors and how to fix them, based on questions asked by thousands of students over the years.  You can read a truncated transcript of this post here: https://whip-stitch.com/answers-to-the-three-most-frequent-sewing-machine-questions/

Host Deborah Moebes shares the story of Sandra, whose sewing machines and legacy inspired Whipstitch from the beginning.  One of the most popular posts on the Whipstitch blog, this story reminds us all that the legacy we leave with our sewing can reach far beyond what we imagine.  Fair warning: bring tissues, this one's a honey of a tale! You can read a transcript of this episode on the Whipstitch blog: https://whip-stitch.com/the-story-of-sandra-2/

One of my very favorite series on the Whipstitch blog is the Great Women In Sewing series, where we highlight the work and influence of a woman who changed the world with her needle, or simply changed the world with a needle in her hand.  In this episode, we focus on Rosa Parks, Civil Rights icon and community activist--and professional seamstress. Read a transcript of this episode and get links to the sites and resources mentioned here: https://whip-stitch.com/rosa-parks-a-great-woman-in-sewing/

I've discovered some simple ways of making dramatic improvement in your sewing.  This twenty-minute episode shares those, along with some stories that follow my path to uncovering these techniques.  You can download a copy of this list as a printable PDF from the League of Dressmakers, our episode sponsor!